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Conflict in the Middle East
Original poster

Opinion piece in newspaper -RICHARD LITTLEJOHN: The only purpose of these endless marches is to intimidate British Jews.

1000 replies

floodlightonwhatisright · 20/12/2023 16:23

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-12878659/RICHARD-LITTLEJOHN-marches-intimidate-British-Jews-tolerate-hatred-streets.html

He raises some interesting ideas.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
47
CatMadam · 24/12/2023 21:59

Richard littlejohn has never raised an interesting idea in his boring wee life

Original poster
floodlightonwhatisright · 24/12/2023 22:42

LastTrainEast · 24/12/2023 16:00

I'd like to know what the marches are supposed to be for.

I could understand if the UK military were bombing Palestine or if we had some authority over Israel.

Are we supposed to be so afraid of what the marchers might do that we threaten Israel with our own bombs? What will make them happy and stop them going on a killing spree as they have in the past so many times when their demands were not met?

Don't get me wrong. I have some sympathy with the people actually living in Palestine and I think the situation there is intolerable and needs to change, but the marchers are not living there. They're here trying to intimidate us and/or Jews who also are living here and not involved in any violence.

100 % this

OP posts:
FOJN · 24/12/2023 22:52

LastTrainEast · 24/12/2023 16:00

I'd like to know what the marches are supposed to be for.

I could understand if the UK military were bombing Palestine or if we had some authority over Israel.

Are we supposed to be so afraid of what the marchers might do that we threaten Israel with our own bombs? What will make them happy and stop them going on a killing spree as they have in the past so many times when their demands were not met?

Don't get me wrong. I have some sympathy with the people actually living in Palestine and I think the situation there is intolerable and needs to change, but the marchers are not living there. They're here trying to intimidate us and/or Jews who also are living here and not involved in any violence.

They send a message to our government that we do not support what Israel is doing in Gaza. If our hands were perfectly clean then I would understand why you are asking but they are not, we have deployed military assets to the Mediterranean to support Israel and RAF transport planes are making regular trips between Cyprus and Tel Aviv, delivering who knows what.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prime-minister-deploys-uk-military-to-eastern-mediterranean-to-support-israel

I hope we're not supplying munitions or the UK Government could be in violation the Export Control Act 2002.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/end-use-controls-applying-to-military-related-items

This control will only be invoked, and a licence application refused, where it is assessed that the export would be capable of having a ‘relevant consequence’.

This is as set out in the Schedule to the Export Control Act 2002, and described as:

a threat to the UK’s national security
having an adverse effect on peace, security or stability
an act threatening international peace and security
an act contravening the international law of armed conflict
an act of internal repression
an act that breaches human rights
an act of carrying out (or of acts which facilitate) acts of terrorism or serious crime

Polls show the majority of the UK population support a ceasefire.

And no I do not support antisemites attaching themselves to protests calling for peace and I do not support disruptive or intimidating behaviour. I do support people's right to peacefully protest.

Limeandsodaontherocks · 25/12/2023 00:39

“Polls show the majority of the UK population support a ceasefire. “
I would prefer the marches to ask for a ceasefire AND to ask for the release of all the hostages. That seems fair to me.
As it is - the marches just want the bombing to stop ( fair enough) but don’t refer to the plight of the hostages.
I don’t want the marches banned but I will never attend unless I feel safe to carry banners demanding the release of the hostages as well as a ceasefire.

QueenRania · 25/12/2023 23:22

Limeandsodaontherocks · 25/12/2023 00:39

“Polls show the majority of the UK population support a ceasefire. “
I would prefer the marches to ask for a ceasefire AND to ask for the release of all the hostages. That seems fair to me.
As it is - the marches just want the bombing to stop ( fair enough) but don’t refer to the plight of the hostages.
I don’t want the marches banned but I will never attend unless I feel safe to carry banners demanding the release of the hostages as well as a ceasefire.

And would that also include marching for the many hundreds of Palestinians held in Israel's prisons without charge among them children?

Dulra · 26/12/2023 09:56

@Limeandsodaontherocks

I would prefer the marches to ask for a ceasefire AND to ask for the release of all the hostages. That seems fair to me.
Not sure it's up to you to dictate what people can march about nothing stopping you going out with your own placard outlining your concerns

MercanDede · 26/12/2023 10:23

Limeandsodaontherocks · 25/12/2023 00:39

“Polls show the majority of the UK population support a ceasefire. “
I would prefer the marches to ask for a ceasefire AND to ask for the release of all the hostages. That seems fair to me.
As it is - the marches just want the bombing to stop ( fair enough) but don’t refer to the plight of the hostages.
I don’t want the marches banned but I will never attend unless I feel safe to carry banners demanding the release of the hostages as well as a ceasefire.

You can’t release hostages without a ceasefire. Literally. Because it’s too dangerous to the hostages to have the Red Cross go in and facilitate the release while bombs and shells are dropping all around you, tanks are rolling down roads and blasting all moving vehicles, and soldiers in platoons open automatic gunfire on anything that moves.

So we need a ceasefire to release the hostages.

braticus · 26/12/2023 10:59

@QueenRania It seems for some, it’s only abhorrent when Hamas takes hostages.

stomachamaleon · 26/12/2023 11:50

@MercanDede but they have done it already with a pause. They can do it again surely? And they promised in the first cessation of fighting that the Red Cross could go In and see the hostages and that didn't materialise. It was part of the agreement.

Limeandsodaontherocks · 26/12/2023 12:01

Dulra · 26/12/2023 09:56

@Limeandsodaontherocks

I would prefer the marches to ask for a ceasefire AND to ask for the release of all the hostages. That seems fair to me.
Not sure it's up to you to dictate what people can march about nothing stopping you going out with your own placard outlining your concerns

🙄FFS I’m not dictating anything. I support the right to March .
I said that I would PREFER if the marches were for the victims on both sides. If the marches were asking for the release of hostages AND a ceasefire I would join the March.

QueenRania · 26/12/2023 12:06

I think pauses are out of the equation and understandably so. To the ordinary civilian a respite is just adding insult to injury. What is needed is a permanent ceasefire and a workable solution. Ongoing sieges, occupation of a people and appalling human rights is never going to lead to peace and it was never going to be something that was sustainable.

Limeandsodaontherocks · 26/12/2023 12:08

MercanDede · 26/12/2023 10:23

You can’t release hostages without a ceasefire. Literally. Because it’s too dangerous to the hostages to have the Red Cross go in and facilitate the release while bombs and shells are dropping all around you, tanks are rolling down roads and blasting all moving vehicles, and soldiers in platoons open automatic gunfire on anything that moves.

So we need a ceasefire to release the hostages.

Edited
Show quote history

Yes - I understand this point.
Re the marches - I would like the placards to include a demand to Hamas to release the hostages as well as a demand to governments to push for a ceasefire. ( Note I’m not “dictating” just explaining why I won’t currently support the marches )

Limeandsodaontherocks · 26/12/2023 12:12

QueenRania · 26/12/2023 12:06

I think pauses are out of the equation and understandably so. To the ordinary civilian a respite is just adding insult to injury. What is needed is a permanent ceasefire and a workable solution. Ongoing sieges, occupation of a people and appalling human rights is never going to lead to peace and it was never going to be something that was sustainable.

I also understand this. Temporary pauses can just add further torment . I agree that a ceasefire is needed. I don’t think anyone can convincingly argue against a ceasefire at this point.

Thereissomelight · 26/12/2023 16:26

QueenRania · 26/12/2023 12:06

I think pauses are out of the equation and understandably so. To the ordinary civilian a respite is just adding insult to injury. What is needed is a permanent ceasefire and a workable solution. Ongoing sieges, occupation of a people and appalling human rights is never going to lead to peace and it was never going to be something that was sustainable.

Yes indeed.

Limeandsodaontherocks · 26/12/2023 16:49

QueenRania · 25/12/2023 23:22

And would that also include marching for the many hundreds of Palestinians held in Israel's prisons without charge among them children?

Show quote history

Correct me if I’m wrong but I think the pro Palestinian marches do draw attention to the injustices faced by Palestinians. ?
However- it doesn’t seem a safe space for those who want to remind the public about the horror of the Hamas attacks on October 7th or the ongoing plight of the Israeli hostages. I won’t go in the March (even though I want a ceasefire) because I wouldn’t feel safe to carry a placard demanding Hamas free the hostages.
Perhaps this onesidedness is one of the reasons why some British Jews feel intimidated by the marches?

OP posts:
SteadyEddi · 27/12/2023 22:27

That article is a lot of hot air. It’s a small minority who are verbally and physically aggressive to Jewish people. Majority of protesters just want peace and find Israel’s retaliation far from proportionate.

noblegiraffe · 27/12/2023 22:33

It’s a small minority who are verbally and physically aggressive to Jewish people.

Fucksake.

stomachamaleon · 27/12/2023 23:01

@noblegiraffe I see you a 'fucksake' and raise you a 'delusion'

Trulywonderful · 27/12/2023 23:23

I mean only a small minority of people are verbally and physically aggressive towards my family and I.

That is so very ok and reassuring!!!!!

I must let my elderly relatives now that, thanks

Trulywonderful · 27/12/2023 23:48

I must also start proof reading my posts and not write them so quickly too

plusjamais · 27/12/2023 23:50

SteadyEddi · 27/12/2023 22:27

That article is a lot of hot air. It’s a small minority who are verbally and physically aggressive to Jewish people. Majority of protesters just want peace and find Israel’s retaliation far from proportionate.

Can you clarify this please.

It's all "hot air" BUT there's also "a small minority who are verbally and physically aggressive to Jewish people".

Which is it?

1dayatatime · 27/12/2023 23:51

"It’s a small minority who are verbally and physically aggressive to Jewish people."

+++

Actually this statement is quite telling about how antisemitism is becoming an acceptable and growing prejudice.

Dark days ahead...

noblegiraffe · 27/12/2023 23:55

plusjamais · 27/12/2023 23:50

Can you clarify this please.

It's all "hot air" BUT there's also "a small minority who are verbally and physically aggressive to Jewish people".

Which is it?

Show quote history

Don't you see, a small minority being verbally and physically abusing to Jews is just hot air. A fuss about nothing.

And dicking about in shops being twats to shoppers and intimidating shop workers is actually a good thing.

plusjamais · 28/12/2023 00:03

noblegiraffe · 27/12/2023 23:55

Don't you see, a small minority being verbally and physically abusing to Jews is just hot air. A fuss about nothing.

And dicking about in shops being twats to shoppers and intimidating shop workers is actually a good thing.

Show quote history

So glad I'll sleep easy tonight now that Steady Ed has set the record straight and actually we have nothing to fear because only a minority want to beat us up! Yay!

Honestly can't get over how casually that was slipped in.

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